The Chief Wanted Perfect Stats, So Cops Were Told To Pin Crimes On Black People, Probe Found

by Charles Rabin, Jay Weaver and David Ovalle

ray atesiano

The indictment was damning enough: A former police chief of Biscayne Park and two officers charged with falsely pinning four burglaries on a teenager just to impress village leaders with a perfect crime-solving record.

But the accusations revealed in federal court last month left out far uglier details of past policing practices in tranquil Biscayne Park, a leafy wedge of suburbia just north of Miami Shores.

Records obtained by the Miami Herald suggest that during the tenure of former chief raimundo atesiano, the command staff pressured some officers into targeting random black people to clear cases.

“If they have burglaries that are open cases that are not solved yet, if you see anybody black walking through our streets and they have somewhat of a record, arrest them so we can pin them for all the burglaries,” one cop, Anthony De La Torre, said in an internal probe ordered in 2014.

“They were basically doing this to have a 100% clearance rate for the city."

In a report from that probe, four officers — a third of the small force — told an outside investigator they were under marching orders to file the bogus charges to improve the department’s crime stats.

Only De La Torre specifically mentioned targeting blacks, but former Biscayne Park village manager Heidi Shafran, who ordered the investigation after receiving a string of letters from disgruntled officers, said the message seemed clear for cops on the street.

“The letters said police were doing a lot of bad things,” Shafran told the Herald. “It said police officers were directed to pick up people of color and blame the crimes on them.”

Beyond the apparent race targeting, the report — never reviewed in village commission meetings — described a department run like a dysfunctional frat house.

It outlines allegations that the brass openly drank on duty, engaged in a host of financial shenanigans and that the No. 2 in command during the period, Capt. Lawrence Churchman, routinely spouted racist and sexist insults.

Amid the probe, Atesiano abruptly resigned in 2014. Afterward, there was a stark change in village crime-busting statistics.

The Baltimore police officer who was seen in cell phone video striking a man several times and knocking him down over steps on a sidewalk is no longer with the department, police said in a statement late Sunday.

Columbia police dog died after being left in vehicle for eight hours because of gross negligence and conscious indifference

by David Travis Bland

COLUMBIA, South Carolina — The Columbia Police Department said Thursday that a police dog that died in July had been left in a police vehicle for eight hours.

“I guess the simplest way for me to start is to say we made some mistakes,” Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said at a Thursday afternoon news conference.

The dog, named Turbo, was a 2-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever who specialized in explosive detection. Turbo was with CPD for seven months. Master Police Officer David Hurt worked with the dog.

Hurt was at C.A. Johnson High School for active shooter training, Holbrook said. The officer deactivated the K-9 unit vehicle’s heat alarm, which causes a siren and horn to go off when the temperature inside the vehicle reaches a certain level. Hurt had parked in the shade and left all the windows cracked, according to Holbrook.

The dog was in the car from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Other dogs were also in police vehicle during the training at the high school. Hurt asked another officer to check on Turbo during the eight hours.

That officer reported back to Hurt that Turbo was fine at the time. But when Hurt returned to the vehicle at 3:30 he saw that his dog was panting heavily, foaming at the mouth, and unsteady on his feet. He immediately recognized the signs of Turbo being overheated and called for help.

Holbrook called Hurt’s actions negligent and lacking common sense.

The Columbia Police Department announced Turbo’s death on July 28, saying the dog experienced a “heat-related work injury” two days prior. Holbrook said the dog experienced organ failure after being taken to a veterinarian and was euthanized.

Holbrook said Hurt “didn’t give any logical reason for why he deactivated the heat alarm.”

“Officer Hurt was very emotionally attached ... this is not something that just goes away. This is something he’ll live with.”The officer will face no criminal charges, but he has been removed as a K-9 officer, suspended from the bomb squad for six months and will be on leave with no pay for five days.

Holbrook says the review determined there was no criminal intent.

Information from the investigation was shared with the State Law Enforcement Division and the 5th Circuit solicitor’s office.

Police dashcam video obtained by The Beacon-News shows officers responding to a disturbance in a residential neighborhood Sept. 14, 2017, and the situation escalates as the man and his mother go inside their home.

The man yells obscenities at officers.

Officer Jeffrey Johnson then ridicules the man, challenges him to "bring it," and later tells other officers the man is "getting tased immediately - just FYI," according to the audio.

Ex-cop roy oliver found guilty of murder, could face life for killing Jordan Edwards

by Tasha Tsiaperas

"I hope & pray this f_____r gets life imprisonment."

Earlier Tuesday, the Dallas County jury convicted the former Balch Springs police officer of murder for shooting the unarmed 15-year-old as he left a party with his brothers and two friends in April 2017.

The former officer, who was fired from the force not long after the shooting, was immediately taken into custody, and his bond was revoked.

In the hallway after the verdict was read, Jordan's father, Odell Edwards, embraced supporters, rocking them from side to side as he wiped tears from his reddened eyes.

Jurors on Wednesday night sentenced a former Texas police officer convicted of murder to 15 years in prison and a fine of $10,000.

The prosecution and the defense both rested Wednesday afternoon following the second day of the sentencing phase in the trial of former Balch Springs police officer Roy Oliver, who was convicted Tuesday for the 2017 slaying of 15-year-old Jordan Edwards.

"The beautiful thing about his sentence is, because he received over 10 years, he will not be eligible for an appeal bond," Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson said.

"So, he will start serving that sentence today. I’m quite certain that the defense, as the judge indicated, has already submitted its certification to appeal this case, but we feel very comfortable about the verdict and feel very comfortable about the case we put on."

Cincinnati police investigators said an officer who deployed a Taser to stop an 11-year-old girl from shoplifting violated the department's use of force policy, but also found problems with his telling the girl: "You know, sweetheart, this is why there’s no grocery stores in the black community.”

The comment was caught on Officer Kevin Brown's body camera and is the second time the officer is accused of making inappropriate comments while doing his job.

Two years ago he was written up for using a homophobic slur in reference to an alleged domestic violence victim, though the woman did not hear him.

Councilman Wendell Young, a former police officer, said “I just don’t know if you have room on the police department for people like this.

This guy, from what I am hearing, has serious issues. He apparently polices the way he feels.”

Young said he’s not cavalier about anyone’s employment, but said “there comes a time you have to cut your losses.”

“If it’s true he tased the little girl, if it’s true that he said what he’s reported to say, if it’s also true that not terribly long ago he made derogatory comments about the gay community, he’s building a case that makes it difficult for us to continue with him as a member of the police department.”

Brown's punishment is up to Police Chief Eliot Isaac, who make a determination after an internal departmental hearing.

Punishment could range from counseling to termination, and Brown would have a chance to appeal any decision.

Cincinnati police released a use of force report related to the Aug. 6 incident involving Brown, 55, who was working a theft prevention detail at the Spring Grove Kroger.

Body camera footage was included in the release and shows the girl, who is African-American scared and crying as Taser barbs are taken from her back.

Brown, also African-American, violated four policies according to the report:

The comment constituted prejudice.

He did not turn on his body camera until after he deployed his Taser.

He did not warn the girl he was going to use his Taser.

He told her to stop three times as she was exiting the store, but did not warn that he was going to escalate his use of force.

The incident wasn't serious enough to deploy a Taser. Police investigators said officers should use the least amount of force necessary when dealing with juveniles.

Isaac told reporters Tuesday using a taser was "unnecessary in this circumstance."

These incidents are proliferating with a pre-1950's rate of violence. Fools like this Officer Brown are the reasons why I teach my clients the multipronged problem avoidance, resolution, and proven, Afrikan fighting science [ Montu Ra ] rooted self defense techniques aimed at swiftly and relentless dismantling criminal cops and any other criminal that runs up on them.

I cannot stomp on this repulsive creature's skull enough. That 11 year old baby? IS THE DAUGHTER OF THE ENTIRE AFRIKAN COMMUNITY. Lord help that fool if I get a crack at him.

On second thought? Nah. Lord? Don't help that fool at all, please. Thanks.

These incidents are proliferating with a pre-1950's rate of violence. Fools like this Officer Brown are the reasons why I teach my clients the multipronged problem avoidance, resolution, and proven, Afrikan fighting science [ Montu Ra ] rooted self defense techniques aimed at swiftly and relentless dismantling criminal cops and any other criminal that runs up on them.

I cannot stomp on this repulsive creature's skull enough. That 11 year old baby? IS THE DAUGHTER OF THE ENTIRE AFRIKAN COMMUNITY. Lord help that fool if I get a crack at him.

On second thought? Nah. Lord? Don't help that fool at all, please. Thanks.

It's sickening, Supreme, I know...

Y'know, what? You're right.

Martin, Medger Evers and Malcolm had enough and took action. We should finish it. We are failing our children, our women and elders.

We, the People... will handle these matters after November 2018 the correct way.

Thanks for your commentary. I always look out for your words of wisdom.